Check out Luke 11:5-13
So Jesus gets asked how to pray and he concludes his answer by saying, “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
The power in prayer is receiving God’s Holy Spirit.” And that, my friends, is a very bold statement. Why?
I’m glad you asked. Remember the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit isn’t just yours for the asking. He just sort of happens. He comes upon the judges like Gideon and Samson to overthrow cruel oppressors. He comes upon kings like David and Hezekiah to rule to nation. He comes upon prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah to speak to the nation.
The power in prayer is receiving God’s Holy Spirit.
And then one prophet, Joel, announces that times are gonna be a-changin’: “I will pour out my Spirit upon all people…. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants–men and women alike.” That’s a whole new ball game.
And now Jesus says all you have to do is ask. All you have to do is ask? These first followers of Jesus are men and women, in all likelihood poor, under the oppression of the Roman Empire. Does this mean all we have to do is ask and we all get Jedi powers to kick out the evil, pagan Romans?
The power in prayer is receiving God’s Holy Spirit.
Jesus has something bigger in mind than overthrowing Romans. He’s overthrowing Satan and all the demonic forces that have turned earth into hell. He’s introducing a new Kingdom. Creation healed.
And that doesn’t happen with swords and shields, assassination and political manipulation. It happens by the Holy Spirit. And God is good father who gives good gifts to his children. He eagerly gives the right tools for the job. Think about that. God gets excited thinking about you and giving you good stuff.
If you ask for the Holy Spirit, He’s excited to give. He won’t punish you or hold out on you. Consider the opposite of Jesus’ illustration. Do good fathers give snakes and scorpions just because their kids ask? Here Jesus tells us disciples what the best thing is to ask for from God.
Question: What are you trying to accomplish on your own strength today? What difference might the presence of God’s Spirit make in that situation?
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